Temperature responsive device



March 22, 1932. J. A. RoBERTsHAw Y 1,850,727 i l'IEMPERTURE RESPONSIVE DEVICE Filed April 7, 1930 En g IN VEN TOR Patented Mar. 22, 1.932

UNITED STATES*y PATENT clerics JOHN A. ROBERTSHAW, OF 'YOlIINGClOID,l PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ROBE'R'TSHAW THERMOSTAT COMPANY, 'OF YOUNG-WOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA 'rmrrnnnrunn nnsronsrvn nnvrcn The present invention relatesbroadly to the art of temperature responsive devices, and more particularly to devices of this character ordinarily 'referred to as thermostats or thermostatically operated' valves.

At the present time it "is customary in the art to which the present invention relates to' construct thermostats which are known as rights and lefts', these words, respectively, having reference to whether the thermostats are to be viewed from the right side or r the left side by the operator. A common eX- ample of a condition in which suchvalves are utilized is found in the ordinary domestic range in which the characteristics of the valve must bechanged in accordance with whether a right hand ovenor a left hand oven is'provided.'

Sucha condition hasI necessitated manuacturers and dealers carrying both types in stock,and has furthe'rrequired the manufacturer tov maintain 4vthe necessary extra equipment required by athe two types of valves.

Such constructions have also 'involved a further objection from the standpoint of the user, in that the space available for a scale or other indicating means by which the `user may. adjust the temperature conditions to which thethermostat is responsive, has necessarily been limited to a spacenot exceeding,-

and usually considerably less than half of the periphery of the valve casing. This has necessarily somewhat restricted the range through which the thermostat could be con- 'veniently adj usted;

ln accordance with the present invention there is provided whatmay be termeda universal thermostat, in that a' given construction is available for either a right or left hand oven, for example, or for any other condition normally encountered in the art requiring the use of such devices. This not onl makes it possible for the manufacturer an dealer to satisfy all normal requirements by the same thermostat, but gives added room for the scale or other Vindicating means, thereby making it possible to indicate a greater range of temperatures. This in turn makes the thermostat Amore desirable from the standpoint of the user, inasmuch as a given i thermostat may be manually set for a wider range of dilerent temperature conditions.

The present invention further provides a construction which is desirable from the standpoint of appearance, compactness, ease of calibration, and relatively short over-all length.

ln the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment of the invention. y

' In the drawings: 1.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through a thermostat constructed in accordance withv the, present invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a thermostat such as illustrated in Figure l,` the indicating dial, however, being removed therefrom, A

Figure, 3 is an elevational view of the dial itself,

Figure e is an eXplodedview of a portion of a slightly modified embodiment of the inperature conditions. This casing is herein illustrated as'of such construction as to be adaptable for the controlling of a combustible fluid, such as gas. To this end it is provided with inlet and outlet openings 4 and 5, respectively, between which is formed a seat 6. Cooperating with this seat is a valve Z which is preferably urged in Aone direction by a spring 8,

The interior of the' casing is threaded as indicated at 49to receive a cap 10 by means of which thefcasing is closed against the escape of the-combustible fluid;

Extending rearwardly 0f1 the casing is a projectin'll preferablyprovided on its eX- terior surface'with a thread 12 of relatively steep pitch, "whereby a.' comparatively small rotational movement cfa part in engagement therewith will produce a relatively large axial movement of such part toward or from the casing.

Cooperating with the thread 12 is an 1nternally threaded bushing 13 to which is suitably connected a tube 14 of relativel lexpansible material. This tube provi 'es' a' housing for a rod 1-5' of relatively non-expansible material, such as carbomthis construction being well understoodin the art. Cooperating with the outer end of the tube .14 is a screw threaded plug' I5 which may be threaded more or less into the tube for providing the initial set-ting for the parts.

This' setting having been determined, accidental movement thereof may be prevented by providing the tube with a ring 17 carrying a set screw 18. By reason of this construction it is ossible, by tightening the set screw, to slight y deform the endo? the tube and thereby bind the plug 16 in its adjusted position.

For transmitting pressure from the rod 15 to the valve for operating the valve in ac cordance with temperature changes, there is provided a pressure transmitting and sealing pin 19. This pin, as well understood in the art, preferably the opening rovided therefor in the casing 2, and is provi ed withgio'oves 2O within which oil'or other sealing material may be retained. This revents the leakage of combustible fluid rom the casing 2 into the space between the rod 15 and the tube 14.

Suitably secured to the bushing 13,is a flange -21 herein illustrated as being of -substantially circular contour with the excepmay effect rotation of the bushin tion of`a projectionv22 at one point on its periphery.. This flange is adapted to be r'eceived Within a recess 23 in an adjusting lever or handle 24, which handle has one aortion extending around the bushing and embracing the flange' 21, und another portion 25 extending over the casing 2 and terminating in a polnter 26. It is this portion. 25 which is preferably provided with an operating andle 27 by means of which the operator 13 and its lassociated ,parts on 'the `three ed projection 1I: l o B* reference more particularly to Figure 2 ofthe drawings it wIl-l be noted that the cap 1'0 is formed 'th central angular portion 28- of' such shape as to' receive a wrench or other tool for setting or removing the cap.

within the capl is a threadedgdp'ening-.29 adapted for the reception of a' screw 39,- which screw isv provided on its outer end .with aknurlednger enga ingA ortion 31.

, The cap 10 is also forme w1 a ripheral ange 32,..which flange is of suc dimensions to substantially con-form to the outer periphery of a dial 33. Thisdiah as will be clearly apparent from Figures-land 3, is so shaped as to provide a tapered or inclined has a close sliding fit with the. evice'and there peripheral portion 34 with a substantially flat central portion 35. This central portion is provided with an'opening 36 extending,A when the dialA is applied, in alinement Awith the `opening 29,'whereby the screw 30 may bev passed therethrough and tightened in posi- ,by providing the dial, preferably on its tapered portion 35, with graduations 37. yInusmuch as it is sometimes necessary to install the thermostat lin such manner that one side y of the dial will be visible, while in other cases itis soinstalled that the opposite side will be visible, I preferably form the temperature designations inthe manner .illustrated more partlcularl in Figure 3,

In this gure the numbers 550 to 400 run from the outer periphery of the dial toward the center thereof,y While the numbers 350 to 70 run from the center of the d al toward the outer periphery. By reason of this construction, regardless ofthe side from which the dial is read, the numbers indicating temperatures' apcpeatin their atural sequence from the stan peint 'of thelopera'to'r.' This not only improves the'ap 'arance of the installation, butex'pedite'si use'.

Assuming a g'ivensetting of the plug 165, with a given position ofthe pointer 26, it will be a parentt 'at if I tive to t'h'epi'nte'r it is ossi'ble to calibrate i y ma e the temperatures to which itis responsive exactly coincide with the temperature indicated by t i e relationship between the pointer' and the dial.

'The construction is further an advantageous onel in that it is never possible to completely lose the factory' setting of the thermostat for the reason that a 'complete rotation of the' dial brings 'the parts back'exaetly to their original position` This is decdedl more. desirable kthan constructions in which' the adjustment 'is efectdby rotating one of the operative parts of the' thermostat,"inas-4 much as the operator A.sometimes loses count of. 'the' of complete' revolutions which have been made. n such .it is frequentl 5 necessarytoreturn the thermostat tothe actcry for suiublcadjuctmenz;

the dial $3s rotated relai lll' In order to famme-ny rio-1,1 the pointer in adjusted losition, I `uiaydprovi'd'e a spring 38 between t 'ecasn'giQ an the flange 21 so as to'enert a rictional' holding pressure on these parts'. j L

The` valve may, of course, be provided with l-SO any usual form of by-pass between` the inlet and outlet, the adjustment 'for which is indicated at.39 in the drawings. This may be of any well known construction, and is tl1erefore not referred to in detail.-

' The use of the knurled portion 31 on the' screw 30 is desirable'inasmuch as the tightenholding screw 30 shou ened during removal of the cap 10, for example, there is no easy way for the operator to correctly re-asseinble the parts. In other words, artial rotation of the dial might occur, and) the setting therebyl lost. I have also found' that enameled dials are desirable in ystructures of this character, and it is obvi ously necessary tov aocomplishthe holding of the dial without any material exing thereof such as would result'i-n cracking of the enamel.

With the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, it is possible to accom;

plish the desired holding of the dial and also the-easy replacing vof the dial in the exact position which it formerly occupied. In these iigures of the drawings, parts correspondingr to the parts already described are designate by the same reference-characters having, howeyer, a prime aiixed thereto. The angular portion 2.8 of the cap l0 is provided with an opening 29 threadedtoreceive the reduced v end 4() of a double diameter screw in which the portion 4l of the larger diameter rovides an intermediate shoulder 42.l From i ure 4 of the drawings it will be appreciate that adjacent the shoulder 42 there is an unthreaded portion 43 adatedto cooperate with the opening 44 in a centering washer 45. The

opening 44 is of greater diameterthan the diameter of the portion 43, whereby it may have a 'slight lateral movement relatively thereto up until such time as the entire double diameter screw is threaded tightly into v the opening 29 in such manner esto. clamp the washer between the angular portion 28' and the shoulder 42 at which time further lateral movement is prevented. Q

The. collar 45 is preferably formedwith one flat side 46, and the dial33 is provided with a central ,openingV shaped to iit over the washer and engage the same withsufficient accuracy so that the washer will hold the dial not only against rotation but, in cooperation with the peripheral flange 2,2',

against any lateral movement. By making than the iameter the 'portion' 43, it is possible to form the lian e 32' so as to rather' tightly engage the The parts having', een'assembled in the manner described, the' double diameter screw is tightened into positionso as to prevent its accidental loosening, and thereafter a lthe openin 44 of htly'greater diameter i lrip ery of the dial, and still easily insert t e` dial in the event the opening 29 is slightl ofi-center in the cap.'

clamping nut 47 is threaded onto the portion Y 41 so as to clamp the dialin position. With this construction, in case the dial is removed, it will be apparentihat it can only be relaced in one position, this position being definitely determined by the'inner enga ement of the fiat side 460i thevwasher 45 with the correspondingly shaped portion of the dial opening. This is a decided advantage in many cases, as willfbereadily apparent to thoseskilled'inthe art.l l

The dial 33 may also be formed with a depression or oEset 48 in such position as to normally be covered; by the-nut 47 when it is in position,but uncovered upon ,the removal of such nut to permit the msertion of t a suitable' 'tool which" removes the vdial in casel it sticks. r

If itis desired 'to make any adjustment of the dial for purposes of calibration, the double*'diameter'-q screw'\ may be loosened sufcientlliy to r'rnit rotatiomof the washer 45, an the I position and the parts reti'ghtened.

. AIt willalso be note Ethatl the dial enables graduations to be"A placed throughout sub-v. stantially entire perimeter.' 'I y1t .possible to operate. thefthermostat over a.

n his makes greater rangeoftemperatures, as will be readily apparent. j' j.

The casing in whichthe valve is provided constitutes what may be termed a supfort for a movable means or movable mem er, it being apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention'is not necessarily limited to a valve, inasmuchas other devices which it is: desired to control by temperature may be substituted in lieu thereof.,

While I .have herein illustrated and Fde-v scribed a 'preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will. be understood that changes in the construction and operation 'of the various parts may be'made without .departing eithrwfroin the' s irif; .of the in- Avention or the pscopeof my reader claims,

I claim:

l't'hereupon turned to L'proper ioc no i

' 1." A temperature responsive device li'aifi'ng f a housing, an inlet andoutlet chamhelginV the irection extending outwardly the back ofthe housing, means for moving the valve in the other direction, Aa cap the front of the housin'ggt'an adlus'tilig'leverv housing, a valvefor controlling the flow from l the inlet to the'outlet chamber, thermally revsporisive means for moving the rvalve lin one iso means and e tending from the back of he housing to t e front thereof, an adjsta 'le dial on the cap, and 'means `for" fixedly securing the dial in its adjustedposition on the ca l g. A temperature responsive device having aliousing, an inlet andl outlet chamber in the housing, a valve for controlling the ow from the inlet to the outlet chamber, thermally res onsive means for moving the valve in one irection extending outwardly through the back of the housing, means for moving the valve in the other direction, a cap for closing the front of the housing, an adjusting lever associated with the thermally responsive means and extending from the back of the housing to ythe front thereof, an annular flangiaJ on said cap, an adjustable dished dial on t e cap the eripheral edge of the dial being surrounde with the flange, and a screw gassing through the dial into the cap for xedly securing the dial in its adjusted position on the cap.

3. A vtemperature responsive device having a housing, an inlet and outlet chamber in the housing, a valve for controlling the 'flow from the inlet 'to theoutlet chamber, thermally rei sponsive means for moving the valve in one direction extending outwardly through the back of the housing, means for moving the valve in the other direction, a cap for closing the front of the housin an adjusting lever associated with the t ermally responsive means and extending from the back of the housing 'to the front thereof, an adjustable holder on the cap, a dial on said holder, there bein inter-engaging elements on the holder and ial for preventing the dial from undesired rotation with relation`to the ca and means for securing the dial to the ho der in its adjustedposition. bo4. In a thermostatic control valve, a valve tata le temperature responsive tube su ported by said screw threaded portion for t e adjustment of Asaid tube, and a compression springfconcentrically ositioned between said tube and valve body, t uspreventing endwise play in said screw means and also frictionally holding said tube against accidental rotation from a desired position.

5.i In' a thermostatic control valve, a body portion having an end` opening, a cover for said opening, a ixed tem rature scale secured. to the outer portion o said cover and adjustable for calibration only so as to correctly register with a movable temperature pointercarried by said valve.

6. Ina 'thermostatic valve, a valve body having an 'end opening, a valve' disc therein inserted through said end opening, a screw cap closui for said opening providing convenient access to said disc, a temperature dial, temperature' dial" positioning means fixed upon said cap and a' justabl'e only for calibrahaving a screw threaded portion, a roassociated withy the thermally responsive tion, and means for securing said dial to said dial positioning means.

7 A thermostatic valve adapted to be fitted to the side wall of a range oven, said valve having on its end portion a radially beveled tem 'erature scale, so inclined as to be at once rea able from opposite sides or directly in front, and having temperature indicia arranged on its beveled portion so that the nume'r'als adjacent the observer will read in proper vsequence from left to' right whether viewed from the left side or the right side.

8. In a temperature responsive device, a4

housing having an inlet and outlet chamber therein, a valve in said housing controlling the flow between said chambers, thermally responsive means for moving the valve in one direction and extending outwardly through one sideof the housing, the opposite side of said housin being open to permit insertion and remova of said valve, a cap for the open end of said housing, a peripherally extending flange on said cap, a dial having tapered sides embraced within said'ange, and means cooperating with the central portion of the dial for drawing the same a einst the cap.

In testimony whereo I have hereunto set my hand. I

JOHN A. ROBERTSHW. v

Y CERTIFICATE or connecrloN.

Pawn No. 1,850,721. L Granted Maren 22, .ieee :o

A JOHN A. RoBERTsHAw.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification `of the'A above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line l, claim l, before the word "means" insert the words associated with the thermally responsive; saine page line 66, claim 6, strike out the words "associated v fith the thermally responsive; andl that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections `therein that the same'may conform to the recordof the casse-- in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of May, A. D. 1932.

A Lemoore (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. f 

